The last letter from Gradneir, the Mage of the King

My dear friend,

I hope this letter finds you well, and that you don’t suffer from the consequences of my actions here.

I’m afraid this will be the last letter you receive from me. The kind of the Hanro Realm has truly turned mad but I’m afraid I still have to obey him. I fear what he must do by himself. I will be the last safeguard from his ultimate folly.

I’ve told you about the wall he forced me to create between the two kingdoms that the Hanro Realm has turned into. This magic barrier is unnatural and I’m already weakening from keeping it going. The two rivers that once joined and went on to the next realm are absorbed now by the magic. I can feel the water forcing on it. But the king had ordered it.

The citizens are still fleeing and the king is outraged by what he views as utter disloyalty from them. I pity him. He doesn’t see they fear him. He won’t change his way. He doesn’t listen to anyone now. Even I, who had his trust, have been shunned aside. I’m not an advisor anymore, I’m barely an executant. He has posted guards at the only way across the barrier and makes them shoot anyone who enters the river. So many lives lost, so many deaths. I can feel them pass through the magic. And my magic weakens from everyone of them.

But as I’ve said, this is probably the last letter I will write to you, friend. The kind makes me close his land for good with the last of my magic. And to close the door inside the river, I will have to close every border surrounding the realm. I even believe it will affect the other realm of Hanro. I’m at a loss, my friend. I can’t do anything but warn him of the danger. And this will be my last action. It will take from me the rest of my magic, and therefore my life force.

I will leave behind me a prophecy to undo my magic and free the two kingdoms. Hopefully, I’ve made it obscure enough so that the king won’t understand it, but clear enough for future citizens to be able to fulfill it. I would hope I’m won’t be remembered only for these horrible acts, but my hope is thin.

I say goodbye to you now, my friend, and wish you a long life, far away from mad and dangerous people. Gradneir, Mage of the mad king

Type

Text, Letter